Written questions by McMurdock.

Pursuant to his Department’s press release entitled Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally, published on 17 March 2026, how many additional (a) judges, (b) magistrates, and (c) court staff will be required to support the national rollout of the Child-Focused Courts model.

Child Focused Courts introduce a streamlined, problem-solving approach in relevant private law proceedings that ensures early identification of needs and risks, enabling the court to make safe decisions without delay. Under the model, the proportion of children seen by social workers more than doubles and parents who are victims of domestic abuse are able to access additional support through Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs). Communication with families can improve their understanding of, and engagement in, the court process and the Child Impact Report provides an opportunity for parents and parties to share their views on the recommendations made to the court.Key metrics from existing pilot areas show backlogs have reduced by more than fifty percent and cases are being resolved up to seven and a half months faster, thereby reducing delays and improving outcomes for children and families. Nationally, information on open caseload and average case duration is routinely published through Family Court Statistics and HMCTS management information. In addition, we have published additional management information demonstrating the effectiveness of the Child Focused Courts and have also published a process evaluation and a research report exploring the experience of children and families.Following the announcement of national rollout, a phased approach will see the model operating across the whole of England and Wales by 2029. Launch dates in court areas beyond those already announced will be agreed with operational partners in due course.The funding announced in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Statement of 17 March includes a permanent increase in social worker capacity for Cafcass and Cafcass Cymru, in recognition of the additional resources required to deliver the model, and for new domestic abuse specialists to work in the family courts.During the implementation period, we are providing funding for additional court staff to support preparation activity, such as reducing outstanding legacy cases, and to support transition to the new model. The evaluation of the pilot areas shows that cases are being resolved earlier and the number of open cases is decreasing, indicating that the model uses existing court capacity more efficiently and that no additional judicial, magistrates, or court staff will be needed once the model is fully implemented in a court area. Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial College, which operates independently from the Government.

Pursuant to his Department’s press release entitled Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally, published on 17 March 2026, what training will be provided to judges and magistrates to support the rollout of the new approach.

Child Focused Courts introduce a streamlined, problem-solving approach in relevant private law proceedings that ensures early identification of needs and risks, enabling the court to make safe decisions without delay. Under the model, the proportion of children seen by social workers more than doubles and parents who are victims of domestic abuse are able to access additional support through Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs). Communication with families can improve their understanding of, and engagement in, the court process and the Child Impact Report provides an opportunity for parents and parties to share their views on the recommendations made to the court.Key metrics from existing pilot areas show backlogs have reduced by more than fifty percent and cases are being resolved up to seven and a half months faster, thereby reducing delays and improving outcomes for children and families. Nationally, information on open caseload and average case duration is routinely published through Family Court Statistics and HMCTS management information. In addition, we have published additional management information demonstrating the effectiveness of the Child Focused Courts and have also published a process evaluation and a research report exploring the experience of children and families.Following the announcement of national rollout, a phased approach will see the model operating across the whole of England and Wales by 2029. Launch dates in court areas beyond those already announced will be agreed with operational partners in due course.The funding announced in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Statement of 17 March includes a permanent increase in social worker capacity for Cafcass and Cafcass Cymru, in recognition of the additional resources required to deliver the model, and for new domestic abuse specialists to work in the family courts.During the implementation period, we are providing funding for additional court staff to support preparation activity, such as reducing outstanding legacy cases, and to support transition to the new model. The evaluation of the pilot areas shows that cases are being resolved earlier and the number of open cases is decreasing, indicating that the model uses existing court capacity more efficiently and that no additional judicial, magistrates, or court staff will be needed once the model is fully implemented in a court area. Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial College, which operates independently from the Government.

Pursuant to his Department’s press release entitled Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally, published on 17 March 2026, whether Child Focused Courts will provide additional resources and services for (a) children and (b) parents compared to standard courts.

Child Focused Courts introduce a streamlined, problem-solving approach in relevant private law proceedings that ensures early identification of needs and risks, enabling the court to make safe decisions without delay. Under the model, the proportion of children seen by social workers more than doubles and parents who are victims of domestic abuse are able to access additional support through Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs). Communication with families can improve their understanding of, and engagement in, the court process and the Child Impact Report provides an opportunity for parents and parties to share their views on the recommendations made to the court.Key metrics from existing pilot areas show backlogs have reduced by more than fifty percent and cases are being resolved up to seven and a half months faster, thereby reducing delays and improving outcomes for children and families. Nationally, information on open caseload and average case duration is routinely published through Family Court Statistics and HMCTS management information. In addition, we have published additional management information demonstrating the effectiveness of the Child Focused Courts and have also published a process evaluation and a research report exploring the experience of children and families.Following the announcement of national rollout, a phased approach will see the model operating across the whole of England and Wales by 2029. Launch dates in court areas beyond those already announced will be agreed with operational partners in due course.The funding announced in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Statement of 17 March includes a permanent increase in social worker capacity for Cafcass and Cafcass Cymru, in recognition of the additional resources required to deliver the model, and for new domestic abuse specialists to work in the family courts.During the implementation period, we are providing funding for additional court staff to support preparation activity, such as reducing outstanding legacy cases, and to support transition to the new model. The evaluation of the pilot areas shows that cases are being resolved earlier and the number of open cases is decreasing, indicating that the model uses existing court capacity more efficiently and that no additional judicial, magistrates, or court staff will be needed once the model is fully implemented in a court area. Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial College, which operates independently from the Government.

Pursuant to his Department’s press release entitled Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally, published on 17 March 2026, when the first Child Focused Court is expected to open in Essex.

Child Focused Courts introduce a streamlined, problem-solving approach in relevant private law proceedings that ensures early identification of needs and risks, enabling the court to make safe decisions without delay. Under the model, the proportion of children seen by social workers more than doubles and parents who are victims of domestic abuse are able to access additional support through Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs). Communication with families can improve their understanding of, and engagement in, the court process and the Child Impact Report provides an opportunity for parents and parties to share their views on the recommendations made to the court.Key metrics from existing pilot areas show backlogs have reduced by more than fifty percent and cases are being resolved up to seven and a half months faster, thereby reducing delays and improving outcomes for children and families. Nationally, information on open caseload and average case duration is routinely published through Family Court Statistics and HMCTS management information. In addition, we have published additional management information demonstrating the effectiveness of the Child Focused Courts and have also published a process evaluation and a research report exploring the experience of children and families.Following the announcement of national rollout, a phased approach will see the model operating across the whole of England and Wales by 2029. Launch dates in court areas beyond those already announced will be agreed with operational partners in due course.The funding announced in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Statement of 17 March includes a permanent increase in social worker capacity for Cafcass and Cafcass Cymru, in recognition of the additional resources required to deliver the model, and for new domestic abuse specialists to work in the family courts.During the implementation period, we are providing funding for additional court staff to support preparation activity, such as reducing outstanding legacy cases, and to support transition to the new model. The evaluation of the pilot areas shows that cases are being resolved earlier and the number of open cases is decreasing, indicating that the model uses existing court capacity more efficiently and that no additional judicial, magistrates, or court staff will be needed once the model is fully implemented in a court area. Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial College, which operates independently from the Government.

Pursuant to his Department’s press release entitled Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally, published on 17 March 2026, whether he plans to publish regular data on the performance of courts operating under the Pathfinder model.

Child Focused Courts introduce a streamlined, problem-solving approach in relevant private law proceedings that ensures early identification of needs and risks, enabling the court to make safe decisions without delay. Under the model, the proportion of children seen by social workers more than doubles and parents who are victims of domestic abuse are able to access additional support through Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs). Communication with families can improve their understanding of, and engagement in, the court process and the Child Impact Report provides an opportunity for parents and parties to share their views on the recommendations made to the court.Key metrics from existing pilot areas show backlogs have reduced by more than fifty percent and cases are being resolved up to seven and a half months faster, thereby reducing delays and improving outcomes for children and families. Nationally, information on open caseload and average case duration is routinely published through Family Court Statistics and HMCTS management information. In addition, we have published additional management information demonstrating the effectiveness of the Child Focused Courts and have also published a process evaluation and a research report exploring the experience of children and families.Following the announcement of national rollout, a phased approach will see the model operating across the whole of England and Wales by 2029. Launch dates in court areas beyond those already announced will be agreed with operational partners in due course.The funding announced in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Statement of 17 March includes a permanent increase in social worker capacity for Cafcass and Cafcass Cymru, in recognition of the additional resources required to deliver the model, and for new domestic abuse specialists to work in the family courts.During the implementation period, we are providing funding for additional court staff to support preparation activity, such as reducing outstanding legacy cases, and to support transition to the new model. The evaluation of the pilot areas shows that cases are being resolved earlier and the number of open cases is decreasing, indicating that the model uses existing court capacity more efficiently and that no additional judicial, magistrates, or court staff will be needed once the model is fully implemented in a court area. Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial College, which operates independently from the Government.

Pursuant to his Department’s press release entitled Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally, published on 17 March 2026, whether Child Focused Courts will represent additional court capacity or utilise existing court capacity more efficiently.

Child Focused Courts introduce a streamlined, problem-solving approach in relevant private law proceedings that ensures early identification of needs and risks, enabling the court to make safe decisions without delay. Under the model, the proportion of children seen by social workers more than doubles and parents who are victims of domestic abuse are able to access additional support through Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs). Communication with families can improve their understanding of, and engagement in, the court process and the Child Impact Report provides an opportunity for parents and parties to share their views on the recommendations made to the court.Key metrics from existing pilot areas show backlogs have reduced by more than fifty percent and cases are being resolved up to seven and a half months faster, thereby reducing delays and improving outcomes for children and families. Nationally, information on open caseload and average case duration is routinely published through Family Court Statistics and HMCTS management information. In addition, we have published additional management information demonstrating the effectiveness of the Child Focused Courts and have also published a process evaluation and a research report exploring the experience of children and families.Following the announcement of national rollout, a phased approach will see the model operating across the whole of England and Wales by 2029. Launch dates in court areas beyond those already announced will be agreed with operational partners in due course.The funding announced in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Statement of 17 March includes a permanent increase in social worker capacity for Cafcass and Cafcass Cymru, in recognition of the additional resources required to deliver the model, and for new domestic abuse specialists to work in the family courts.During the implementation period, we are providing funding for additional court staff to support preparation activity, such as reducing outstanding legacy cases, and to support transition to the new model. The evaluation of the pilot areas shows that cases are being resolved earlier and the number of open cases is decreasing, indicating that the model uses existing court capacity more efficiently and that no additional judicial, magistrates, or court staff will be needed once the model is fully implemented in a court area. Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial College, which operates independently from the Government.

Pursuant to his Department’s press release entitled Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally, published on 17 March 2026, whether the earlier identification of risks to children’s welfare referenced in the press release is due to any additional resources being allocated to courts.

Child Focused Courts introduce a streamlined, problem-solving approach in relevant private law proceedings that ensures early identification of needs and risks, enabling the court to make safe decisions without delay. Under the model, the proportion of children seen by social workers more than doubles and parents who are victims of domestic abuse are able to access additional support through Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs). Communication with families can improve their understanding of, and engagement in, the court process and the Child Impact Report provides an opportunity for parents and parties to share their views on the recommendations made to the court.Key metrics from existing pilot areas show backlogs have reduced by more than fifty percent and cases are being resolved up to seven and a half months faster, thereby reducing delays and improving outcomes for children and families. Nationally, information on open caseload and average case duration is routinely published through Family Court Statistics and HMCTS management information. In addition, we have published additional management information demonstrating the effectiveness of the Child Focused Courts and have also published a process evaluation and a research report exploring the experience of children and families.Following the announcement of national rollout, a phased approach will see the model operating across the whole of England and Wales by 2029. Launch dates in court areas beyond those already announced will be agreed with operational partners in due course.The funding announced in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Statement of 17 March includes a permanent increase in social worker capacity for Cafcass and Cafcass Cymru, in recognition of the additional resources required to deliver the model, and for new domestic abuse specialists to work in the family courts.During the implementation period, we are providing funding for additional court staff to support preparation activity, such as reducing outstanding legacy cases, and to support transition to the new model. The evaluation of the pilot areas shows that cases are being resolved earlier and the number of open cases is decreasing, indicating that the model uses existing court capacity more efficiently and that no additional judicial, magistrates, or court staff will be needed once the model is fully implemented in a court area. Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial College, which operates independently from the Government.

Pursuant to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, what safeguards will be in place to ensure that employers do not repeatedly cycle through short-term subsidised workers.

The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support the Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. The Youth Jobs Grant is designed to help employers with the early costs of hiring eligible young people. The first payment will not be made until after we’ve had confirmation through other sources that the young person has been employed, and the final payment will not be made until after several months of employment to encourage retention. As with all our employment programmes, we will monitor delivery to ensure the Grant is being used as intended, which is to expand opportunities for young people who need help to enter the labour market.We estimate there are 200,000 young people eligible for the Youth Jobs Grant now, and we expect to support 60,000 young people with this over three years. We are also expanding the Jobs Guarantee to a wider age range, from 18-21 to 18-24, to create more than 35,000 extra subsidised jobs. This brings the total to be supported through the scheme to over 90,000 in the next three years.The Youth Jobs Grant is available to employers in all sectors across Great Britain. The roles supported will depend on employers’ hiring needs rather than sector specific targets. We expect more take up in sectors that traditionally recruit young people, such as retail, hospitality, health and social care, logistics and construction, alongside opportunities in growth sectors including digital, engineering and green technologies. The purpose of the Grant is to help young people into work by reducing the upfront costs of hiring, and it has been designed using evidence from previous schemes in the UK and wider international practice. As with all new programmes, we will monitor delivery and evaluate outcomes, including employment sustainment, once the scheme is in operation.Further practical details on how employers will claim the Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching.

Pursuant to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, what estimate he has made of the number of young people aged 18–24 who have been claiming Universal Credit for six months or more and would therefore be eligible for the Youth Jobs Grant scheme.

The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support the Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. The Youth Jobs Grant is designed to help employers with the early costs of hiring eligible young people. The first payment will not be made until after we’ve had confirmation through other sources that the young person has been employed, and the final payment will not be made until after several months of employment to encourage retention. As with all our employment programmes, we will monitor delivery to ensure the Grant is being used as intended, which is to expand opportunities for young people who need help to enter the labour market.We estimate there are 200,000 young people eligible for the Youth Jobs Grant now, and we expect to support 60,000 young people with this over three years. We are also expanding the Jobs Guarantee to a wider age range, from 18-21 to 18-24, to create more than 35,000 extra subsidised jobs. This brings the total to be supported through the scheme to over 90,000 in the next three years.The Youth Jobs Grant is available to employers in all sectors across Great Britain. The roles supported will depend on employers’ hiring needs rather than sector specific targets. We expect more take up in sectors that traditionally recruit young people, such as retail, hospitality, health and social care, logistics and construction, alongside opportunities in growth sectors including digital, engineering and green technologies. The purpose of the Grant is to help young people into work by reducing the upfront costs of hiring, and it has been designed using evidence from previous schemes in the UK and wider international practice. As with all new programmes, we will monitor delivery and evaluate outcomes, including employment sustainment, once the scheme is in operation.Further practical details on how employers will claim the Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching.

Pursuant to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, what estimate he has made of the proportion of young people supported by the programme who will remain in employment 12 months after starting work.

The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support the Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. The Youth Jobs Grant is designed to help employers with the early costs of hiring eligible young people. The first payment will not be made until after we’ve had confirmation through other sources that the young person has been employed, and the final payment will not be made until after several months of employment to encourage retention. As with all our employment programmes, we will monitor delivery to ensure the Grant is being used as intended, which is to expand opportunities for young people who need help to enter the labour market.We estimate there are 200,000 young people eligible for the Youth Jobs Grant now, and we expect to support 60,000 young people with this over three years. We are also expanding the Jobs Guarantee to a wider age range, from 18-21 to 18-24, to create more than 35,000 extra subsidised jobs. This brings the total to be supported through the scheme to over 90,000 in the next three years.The Youth Jobs Grant is available to employers in all sectors across Great Britain. The roles supported will depend on employers’ hiring needs rather than sector specific targets. We expect more take up in sectors that traditionally recruit young people, such as retail, hospitality, health and social care, logistics and construction, alongside opportunities in growth sectors including digital, engineering and green technologies. The purpose of the Grant is to help young people into work by reducing the upfront costs of hiring, and it has been designed using evidence from previous schemes in the UK and wider international practice. As with all new programmes, we will monitor delivery and evaluate outcomes, including employment sustainment, once the scheme is in operation.Further practical details on how employers will claim the Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching.

Pursuant to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, what analysis his Department has undertaken of the sectors most likely to create jobs under the youth employment drive.

The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support the Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. The Youth Jobs Grant is designed to help employers with the early costs of hiring eligible young people. The first payment will not be made until after we’ve had confirmation through other sources that the young person has been employed, and the final payment will not be made until after several months of employment to encourage retention. As with all our employment programmes, we will monitor delivery to ensure the Grant is being used as intended, which is to expand opportunities for young people who need help to enter the labour market.We estimate there are 200,000 young people eligible for the Youth Jobs Grant now, and we expect to support 60,000 young people with this over three years. We are also expanding the Jobs Guarantee to a wider age range, from 18-21 to 18-24, to create more than 35,000 extra subsidised jobs. This brings the total to be supported through the scheme to over 90,000 in the next three years.The Youth Jobs Grant is available to employers in all sectors across Great Britain. The roles supported will depend on employers’ hiring needs rather than sector specific targets. We expect more take up in sectors that traditionally recruit young people, such as retail, hospitality, health and social care, logistics and construction, alongside opportunities in growth sectors including digital, engineering and green technologies. The purpose of the Grant is to help young people into work by reducing the upfront costs of hiring, and it has been designed using evidence from previous schemes in the UK and wider international practice. As with all new programmes, we will monitor delivery and evaluate outcomes, including employment sustainment, once the scheme is in operation.Further practical details on how employers will claim the Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching.

Pursuant to Answer of 16 March 2026 to Question 119800 on Sentencing: Gender, what the evidential basis is for the conclusion that female offenders are typically lower risk to the public than male offenders.

The statement that women in the criminal justice system are typically lower risk to the public reflects a statement made by the Independent Sentencing Review (ISR) in its Part 2 Report.Through its engagement programme, the ISR heard from third sector organisations working with women in the criminal justice system that many female offenders present with complex vulnerabilities and typically pose a lower level of risk to the public. This feedback was based on practitioners’ operational experience supporting women in custody and the community.Government data, published here, supports this as women make up a small proportion (around 4%) of the overall offender and prison population. Women are also less frequently convicted of the most serious violent offences. For example, in the year to September 2025 data shows that out of all offenders where the sex is known, females account for only 17% of sentences for violence against the person, 2% for sexual offences, and 16% for criminal damage and arson. These patterns contribute to a different typical offending profile compared with men, though individual sentencing decisions must always be based on the facts of the case.Sentencing remains a matter for the courts, which must assess culpability, harm, and all relevant aggravating and mitigating factors in line with statutory sentencing guidelines.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, how the £1 billion funding allocated to the youth employment drive will be distributed between (a) the Youth Jobs Grant, (b) the Jobs Guarantee expansion and (c) apprenticeship incentives.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000. That is why this Government is investing in young people’s futures. On 16 March we announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education. This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end. In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support this Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. It does not place additional requirements on employers’ wider workforce decisions, which remain governed by existing employment law. We followed standard process in assessing equalities impacts, including on the basis of age, to inform Ministerial decisions on the policy. There remains a range of wider employment programmes in place to support adults of all ages into work. The Youth Jobs Grant is also designed to support employers in hiring eligible young people who have been out of work for six months. The scheme will not require employers to demonstrate that roles are additional. Its purpose is to reduce the barriers young people face when entering the labour market by helping employers with the early costs of recruitment and training, rather than placing conditions on wider staffing decisions and how long an employer must retain someone. It is available to any registered employer across Great Britain who hires an eligible young person. To receive the Grant, the employer must take on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. The Grant will be paid in staged instalments after the employment relationship has started, which will encourage sustained employment during the early months without requiring a formal retention period. We expect several thousand employers across Great Britain to make use of the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years. The scheme is designed to support up to 60,000 opportunities for young people and we expect take-up will vary by sector and region depending on employers’ hiring needs. The Grant is open to organisations of all sizes. Further practical details on how employers will claim the Youth Jobs Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching in June 2026. To support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, launching a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship for young people from August, and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs which take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The incentive will apply to apprenticeship starts from October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months i.e. from July 2026. Investment into Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and will report the outcomes to Parliament as necessary.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) fuel duty and (b) VAT on trends in the level of cost of petrol and diesel for consumers.

The Government is already taking action to ensure that fuel at the pump remains affordable.At Budget 2025, the Government extended the 5p-per-litre cut for a further five months, until the end of August this year. The Government has also cancelled the increase in line with inflation for 2026/27; instead, rates will only gradually return to early 2022 levels by March 2027.Since Autumn Budget 2024, the Government's decisions to freeze fuel duty will save the average motorist over £90 – or 8-11 pence per litre –compared to the plans inherited from the previous government.Prices are set by petrol retailers taking into account wholesale costs; fuel duty is a fixed levy and VAT applied as a percentage of the prices retailers charge.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, what assessment his Department has made of the risk that employers may replace older workers with subsidised employees aged 18–24 under the Youth Jobs Grant scheme.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000. That is why this Government is investing in young people’s futures. On 16 March we announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education. This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end. In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support this Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. It does not place additional requirements on employers’ wider workforce decisions, which remain governed by existing employment law. We followed standard process in assessing equalities impacts, including on the basis of age, to inform Ministerial decisions on the policy. There remains a range of wider employment programmes in place to support adults of all ages into work. The Youth Jobs Grant is also designed to support employers in hiring eligible young people who have been out of work for six months. The scheme will not require employers to demonstrate that roles are additional. Its purpose is to reduce the barriers young people face when entering the labour market by helping employers with the early costs of recruitment and training, rather than placing conditions on wider staffing decisions and how long an employer must retain someone. It is available to any registered employer across Great Britain who hires an eligible young person. To receive the Grant, the employer must take on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. The Grant will be paid in staged instalments after the employment relationship has started, which will encourage sustained employment during the early months without requiring a formal retention period. We expect several thousand employers across Great Britain to make use of the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years. The scheme is designed to support up to 60,000 opportunities for young people and we expect take-up will vary by sector and region depending on employers’ hiring needs. The Grant is open to organisations of all sizes. Further practical details on how employers will claim the Youth Jobs Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching in June 2026. To support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, launching a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship for young people from August, and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs which take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The incentive will apply to apprenticeship starts from October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months i.e. from July 2026. Investment into Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and will report the outcomes to Parliament as necessary.

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled Chancellor and Energy Secretary meet with fuel bosses in No11 as government order crackdown on pump prices, published on 13 March 2026, what analysis her Department has undertaken of the time taken by fuel retailers to pass on decreases in wholesale fuel costs to motorists.

At Budget, the Chancellor confirmed the new FuelFinder service, which is now operational and will give consumers clear, real-time information so that they can find the cheapest fuel available. The Chancellor has written to Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, expressing support for the CMA’s work to ensure customers are not affected by undue price rises, including for road fuel. See the letter here: Letter to the CMA on vigilance for unjustifiable price increases.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, whether employers receiving the Youth Jobs Grant will be prohibited from reducing staffing levels elsewhere in their workforce.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000. That is why this Government is investing in young people’s futures. On 16 March we announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education. This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end. In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support this Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. It does not place additional requirements on employers’ wider workforce decisions, which remain governed by existing employment law. We followed standard process in assessing equalities impacts, including on the basis of age, to inform Ministerial decisions on the policy. There remains a range of wider employment programmes in place to support adults of all ages into work. The Youth Jobs Grant is also designed to support employers in hiring eligible young people who have been out of work for six months. The scheme will not require employers to demonstrate that roles are additional. Its purpose is to reduce the barriers young people face when entering the labour market by helping employers with the early costs of recruitment and training, rather than placing conditions on wider staffing decisions and how long an employer must retain someone. It is available to any registered employer across Great Britain who hires an eligible young person. To receive the Grant, the employer must take on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. The Grant will be paid in staged instalments after the employment relationship has started, which will encourage sustained employment during the early months without requiring a formal retention period. We expect several thousand employers across Great Britain to make use of the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years. The scheme is designed to support up to 60,000 opportunities for young people and we expect take-up will vary by sector and region depending on employers’ hiring needs. The Grant is open to organisations of all sizes. Further practical details on how employers will claim the Youth Jobs Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching in June 2026. To support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, launching a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship for young people from August, and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs which take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The incentive will apply to apprenticeship starts from October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months i.e. from July 2026. Investment into Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and will report the outcomes to Parliament as necessary.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, what metrics his Department plans to use to assess the effectiveness of these youth employment policies.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000. That is why this Government is investing in young people’s futures. On 16 March we announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education. This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end. In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support this Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. It does not place additional requirements on employers’ wider workforce decisions, which remain governed by existing employment law. We followed standard process in assessing equalities impacts, including on the basis of age, to inform Ministerial decisions on the policy. There remains a range of wider employment programmes in place to support adults of all ages into work. The Youth Jobs Grant is also designed to support employers in hiring eligible young people who have been out of work for six months. The scheme will not require employers to demonstrate that roles are additional. Its purpose is to reduce the barriers young people face when entering the labour market by helping employers with the early costs of recruitment and training, rather than placing conditions on wider staffing decisions and how long an employer must retain someone. It is available to any registered employer across Great Britain who hires an eligible young person. To receive the Grant, the employer must take on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. The Grant will be paid in staged instalments after the employment relationship has started, which will encourage sustained employment during the early months without requiring a formal retention period. We expect several thousand employers across Great Britain to make use of the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years. The scheme is designed to support up to 60,000 opportunities for young people and we expect take-up will vary by sector and region depending on employers’ hiring needs. The Grant is open to organisations of all sizes. Further practical details on how employers will claim the Youth Jobs Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching in June 2026. To support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, launching a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship for young people from August, and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs which take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The incentive will apply to apprenticeship starts from October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months i.e. from July 2026. Investment into Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and will report the outcomes to Parliament as necessary.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, whether he plans to publish regular updates on the number of jobs and apprenticeships created through the programme.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000. That is why this Government is investing in young people’s futures. On 16 March we announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education. This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end. In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support this Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. It does not place additional requirements on employers’ wider workforce decisions, which remain governed by existing employment law. We followed standard process in assessing equalities impacts, including on the basis of age, to inform Ministerial decisions on the policy. There remains a range of wider employment programmes in place to support adults of all ages into work. The Youth Jobs Grant is also designed to support employers in hiring eligible young people who have been out of work for six months. The scheme will not require employers to demonstrate that roles are additional. Its purpose is to reduce the barriers young people face when entering the labour market by helping employers with the early costs of recruitment and training, rather than placing conditions on wider staffing decisions and how long an employer must retain someone. It is available to any registered employer across Great Britain who hires an eligible young person. To receive the Grant, the employer must take on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. The Grant will be paid in staged instalments after the employment relationship has started, which will encourage sustained employment during the early months without requiring a formal retention period. We expect several thousand employers across Great Britain to make use of the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years. The scheme is designed to support up to 60,000 opportunities for young people and we expect take-up will vary by sector and region depending on employers’ hiring needs. The Grant is open to organisations of all sizes. Further practical details on how employers will claim the Youth Jobs Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching in June 2026. To support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, launching a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship for young people from August, and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs which take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The incentive will apply to apprenticeship starts from October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months i.e. from July 2026. Investment into Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and will report the outcomes to Parliament as necessary.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation, published on 16 March 2026, how many employers his Department expects to claim the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000. That is why this Government is investing in young people’s futures. On 16 March we announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education. This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end. In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. The Youth Jobs Grant is specifically targeted at young people because of the risk of lifelong scarring impacts of extended unemployment at a young age and to support this Government’s commitment to reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. It does not place additional requirements on employers’ wider workforce decisions, which remain governed by existing employment law. We followed standard process in assessing equalities impacts, including on the basis of age, to inform Ministerial decisions on the policy. There remains a range of wider employment programmes in place to support adults of all ages into work. The Youth Jobs Grant is also designed to support employers in hiring eligible young people who have been out of work for six months. The scheme will not require employers to demonstrate that roles are additional. Its purpose is to reduce the barriers young people face when entering the labour market by helping employers with the early costs of recruitment and training, rather than placing conditions on wider staffing decisions and how long an employer must retain someone. It is available to any registered employer across Great Britain who hires an eligible young person. To receive the Grant, the employer must take on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more. The Grant will be paid in staged instalments after the employment relationship has started, which will encourage sustained employment during the early months without requiring a formal retention period. We expect several thousand employers across Great Britain to make use of the Youth Jobs Grant over the next three years. The scheme is designed to support up to 60,000 opportunities for young people and we expect take-up will vary by sector and region depending on employers’ hiring needs. The Grant is open to organisations of all sizes. Further practical details on how employers will claim the Youth Jobs Grant will be set out in guidance ahead of the scheme launching in June 2026. To support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, launching a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship for young people from August, and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs which take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The incentive will apply to apprenticeship starts from October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months i.e. from July 2026. Investment into Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people. We will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and will report the outcomes to Parliament as necessary.